Using cocaine is illegal and poses a lot of health issues. Most people abuse it for recreational purposes. Once they are addicted, they find it hard to stop since their body is used to it. Fortunately, there is still a chance for you to bring back your normal life, and that’s through rehab treatment.
Detox will be your first step to any rehab treatment. This is a critical phase since withdrawal symptoms can either make or break your treatment. The level of discomfort you will feel for these symptoms depends on how long you are using cocaine. Let us help you manage these side effects so that you will have a safer recovery process.
What Medications Can Help Treat Cocaine Addiction and Withdrawal
Going for inpatient treatment will give you a higher chance of recovery. Your detox process will also be safe for inpatients. That’s because you get 24 hours medical supervision in case there are life-threatening side effects. The doctor and nurse assigned to you can immediately give medical assistance when you feel intense pain due to withdrawal symptoms.
Additionally, here are some medicines prescribed by many doctors in treating cocaine addiction and withdrawal.
Modafinil
One evident withdrawal symptom of cocaine is sleepiness. This can disrupt your sleeping pattern and work habits. To solve this, you can take modafinil since it helps you stay up, just enough you get tired at night to sleep well.
You take this once in the morning and it helps counter narcolepsy and drowsiness. Always obey your doctor’s prescription to avoid getting an overdose.
Baclofen
This drug helps you reduce your cravings for cocaine. This is essential when you are tapering off from it. Also, it helps in the secretion of GABA hormones that help you calm down and relax.
Vigabatrin
Getting seizures or epilepsy is one serious withdrawal symptom when you cut back from cocaine. This uncontrolled muscle movement and stiffening can be life-threatening, so you can use vigabatrin to counter that. This is an anticonvulsant that is given to a patient when they are cutting back from cocaine.
Topiramate
Experiencing seizures and behavioral disorders are two crucial withdrawal effects when you taper off from cocaine. To reduce that risk, this anticonvulsant can help you. It helps prevent your body from getting seizures.
Just like baclofen and vigabatrin, it helps stimulate the production of GABA hormones that helps your brain relax.
Gabapentin
Most patients are restless when they slowly cut back from using cocaine. To help ease that problem during your detox, your doctor can prescribe you this drug. It helps promote GABA inside your brain, which helps you relax and get a good sleep.
Are There Side Effects To These Drugs?
There are side effects of using these medicines to ease your substance withdrawal symptoms. However, by using them based on prescription, you are reducing the risk of getting intense side effects.
There is no all-in-one medication for this concern, so you have to strictly abide by your prescription to avoid another overdose. The common side effects of using any of these drugs are the following:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Slight headache
Will You Need Therapy and Counseling?
The use of medicine is one aspect of treating cocaine addiction and withdrawal. To further enhance the chance of your recovery, you need to undergo behavioral therapy since it’s also about fixing your bad habits.
By doing this, you are reprogramming your mind to avoid any triggers, and to respond positively when you encounter one. This is an excellent reinforcement without any side effects like medicines. Also, it helps remind the patient to finish one’s treatment so that they can be healthy again.
Here are some therapies that can help ease your withdrawal symptoms:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Mutual support
- Family intervention
- Motivational interviewing
- 12-step program
Tips for Relieving Withdrawal
Besides the medicines and therapies, some activities can help you positively handle these withdrawal effects.
- Doing a regular exercise
- Ensuring you are eating a balanced meal
- Drink plenty of water as it also helps flush out toxins
- Getting enough sleeping hours
- Joining support groups
- Never do self-medication
- Always look at the importance and beauty of your recovery goals
- Develop a positive attitude towards triggers
Timeline for Cocaine Detox and Withdrawal
Tapering from cocaine or any illicit substance is a process. The treatment period differs on every individual since the addiction level and physique matters. To give you an insight, here are the basic stages for this process:
Stage1: Crash
This first stage starts the moment you stop using the drug. You will start feeling it about an hour after your last intake. The average time you will be in this stage is for three days. This phase is critical since if you can’t handle your cravings, there’s a great chance of relapse.
Stage2: Intense Withdrawal Symptoms
During this phase, you will experience the intense withdrawal effects from cutting back from cocaine. It’s a combined physical and mental health consequence that can test your limits. This usually takes around one to two months.
During this time, your doctor will give you medicines and enroll you in therapies that will help you survive the withdrawal effects.
Stage3: Extinction
Even when you’re done with treatment, there will still be slight withdrawal effects you will be feeling. If your treatment does not have a strong foundation to hold you sober, you might be tempted to use cocaine again if you experience cravings. That being said, you need to schedule periodic sessions with your doctor for check-ups and counseling.
How To Manage Your Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
Detoxification, medicine, and therapy help you manage your withdrawal syndrome. There is no straightforward answer to that, but your doctor can customize your rehab plan based on their assessment of your condition.
That means, your first step is to consult a doctor about your situation. They will perform examinations that will help them assess the level of your cocaine addiction. Once they know it, they can create a personal rehab program for you.
Finally, find a reliable rehab center where you will have your cocaine addiction treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask about their services and facilities. This helps you gauge which one is the best fit for your needs.
